Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

HOMAGE TO MAHABODHISATTVAS
KSITIGARBHA AND SARVASOKA
MONIRGHATAMATI
Chapter IV
SHOULD MEDITATION BE PRACTICED
DIRECTLY WITHOUT PREPARATION?
Through an open window we saw Mr. Chen sitting
on his low stool with his back towards us. Sitting
opposite him was a young man listening to the
yogi's words. When we too were received and seated,
Mr. Chen explained that he was answering some
questions raised by the young man who, we
discovered, was Chinese and a Confucian school
teacher. For a few minutes, our host continued his
Dharma-talk in Chinese to his questioner, who was
obviously deeply interested, pointing out to him
passages in a little book which contained the life
and some of the teachings of the Buddha illustrated
with traditional drawings. When he finished, he
gave two of these books to the schoolmaster, and
after more greetings, ushered him out. Returning,
Mr. Chen explained that he had been answering
questions on the seven wings of Bodhi, the Four
Noble Truths, and the Noble Eight-fold Path.
"Now," he said, "we must come to the subject of our
talk today, as it is also very long." He picked up his
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